Pediatric Brain Tumors: An Overview

Brain tumors represent the most common solid neoplasms in children. Whereas the mainstay of morphologic diagnosis rests on recognition of cellular characteristics using conventional lightinicroscopic and ultrastructural techniques, recent advances in immunohistochemistry, tumor kinetics, karyotyping, and molecular genetic studies have widened the spectrum of diagnostic modalities. In this review, a comprehensive approach to brain tumor diagnosis is presented. Besides addressing the contribution of tumor morphology, immunodiagnosis and ultrastructural analysis, various approaches to predict biologic behavior and tumor grading and application of molecular genetic tools will also be summarized. (The J Histotechnol 20:347, 1997)